I Ate 4 Peppermint Patties In a Minute. Here Is What I Learned

Before I tell you what happened next, let me paint the scene: I'd just finished a workout. I was hungry. And these weren't your regular peppermint patties.

They were the snowflake-shaped ones that are somehow more delicious than the garden variety circle ones.

I ate four of them in about 60 seconds.

Soon I felt that familiar sugar rush followed by the crash that made me want to face-plant into the couch instead of finishing the task at hand.

It got me thinking about something I've noticed over the years working with clients.

They try to be perfect with their nutrition right out of the gate.

Ya know, the opposite of me with the snowflakes.

Not only do people try too hard to be perfect, but they try to overhaul their entire diet all at once.

Here's the thing about perfection, and drastic change—they’re the enemy of progress.

They’re like Superman and Lex Luthor.

Cady and Regina George.

George Costanza and Newman.

Diametrically opposed.

When you try to be perfect, you set yourself up for the all-or-nothing mindset. You know the one:

"Well, I already ate those cookies at lunch, might as well order pizza for dinner."

"I missed my workout yesterday, so this week is ruined. I'll start fresh on Monday."

Sound familiar?

Instead of aiming for perfection, try this instead:

The Better Than Before Method (trademark pending)

At each meal or snack, ask yourself: "Is this choice better than what I would have done before?"

If you normally grab a donut and a sugar-bomb latte for breakfast, and today you had a banana and a core-power shake—that's better than before.

If you usually skip the gym when work runs late, but today you did a 10-minute workout at home—that's better than before.

If you typically order the Chick-Fil-A combo with the fries, but today you went with fruit—that’s better than before.

Small improvements compound over time, and they're sustainable because they don't require superhuman willpower or a lifestyle overhaul.

(By the way, this is exactly how our clients have lost 20,30, and even 50+ pounds and kept it off.)

What I love about this approach is that it’s basically failure-proof.

Unless you're actively trying to make worse choices, you're going to win more often than not.

And again, perfection isn’t required. #peppermintpatties

Lift heavy, and be nice.

Jonathan